Am I playing the same game you are?

[slimm44]

It's not a new occurrence for these boards to have their share of complaining this time of year. Each 2k game, and every other game for that matter, have their hiccups, glitches, and ugly parts. This year, however, seems to be over-the-top in the amount of negative threads and posts. This phenomenon has led to this question: Are we playing the same game?

Maybe there are differences between PC (my platform), 360, and PS3. Maybe it's that I only play against people that I know when I don't play the CPU. Maybe it's that I am not looking for "perfection". Maybe it's that I am not obsessed with HOF mode and trying to "beat the game". Maybe it's that I want a fun, challenging game that at least approaches realism. Maybe it's that I can use my imagination when I play to add to the experience. Maybe it's that I don't hunt out and focus on flaws.

Maybe it's the above things or something else. What I know is that I've been playing on Pro mode with custom sliders that I have been thinking about posting, and I've been having a blast. The stats I get are within the realm of realism. There are hot streaks and cold streaks. The games I'm supposed to win, I usually win. The games I'm supposed to lose, I usually lose.

The thing is, I never know what's going to happen and every game is fun. I haven't played a scripted game yet. I haven't played a game yet where I felt like I didn't have a chance to win or that I was guaranteed a win. When I win I pay attention to what I did right and when I lose I accept responsibility for the mistakes I made and try to learn from them. I've never, in over 20 years of video game experience, played a basketball game that was as close to real-life as this one.

The animations, AI, fast break, ball movement, and differences between each individual and team on the game is amazing. The depth of the editable features is insane. I can take this game and play it with out of the box rosters for a fun experience or I can edit the rosters to my liking for a realistic experience. Even with original rosters, as I've learned the nuances of the game, I've gotten games that strongly resembled real-life basketball.

2K, if you are reading this, keep up the outstanding work. There are definitely things that you can improve on, and I'm confident will be addressed in the upcoming patch, but I give you credit for giving us the best basketball game I've ever seen.

OS members, if you're reading this, I hope your experience with this title is better than what mine has been so far. If it's not, maybe we're not playing the same game.

[Nitrogen]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

Well, you're being unnecessarily dramatic here, but I agree. 2K12 has errors (many of which I've only noticed because of other people whining), but I definitely enjoy this game and it's much more than just playable.

[slimm44]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

A critical response to my post that was criticizing the criticism of others?

*Smiling and Nodding*

[tril]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

It's not a new occurrence for these boards to have their share of complaining this time of year. Each 2k game, and every other game for that matter, have their hiccups, glitches, and ugly parts. This year, however, seems to be over-the-top in the amount of negative threads and posts. This phenomenon has led to this question: Are we playing the same game?

Maybe there are differences between PC (my platform), 360, and PS3. Maybe it's that I only play against people that I know when I don't play the CPU. Maybe it's that I am not looking for "perfection". Maybe it's that I am not obsessed with HOF mode and trying to "beat the game". Maybe it's that I want a fun, challenging game that at least approaches realism. Maybe it's that I can use my imagination when I play to add to the experience. Maybe it's that I don't hunt out and focus on flaws.

Maybe it's the above things or something else. What I know is that I've been playing on Pro mode with custom sliders that I have been thinking about posting, and I've been having a blast. The stats I get are within the realm of realism. There are hot streaks and cold streaks. The games I'm supposed to win, I usually win. The games I'm supposed to lose, I usually lose.

The thing is, I never know what's going to happen and every game is fun. I haven't played a scripted game yet. I haven't played a game yet where I felt like I didn't have a chance to win or that I was guaranteed a win. When I win I pay attention to what I did right and when I lose I accept responsibility for the mistakes I made and try to learn from them. I've never, in over 20 years of video game experience, played a basketball game that was as close to real-life as this one.

The animations, AI, fast break, ball movement, and differences between each individual and team on the game is amazing. The depth of the editable features is insane. I can take this game and play it with out of the box rosters for a fun experience or I can edit the rosters to my liking for a realistic experience. Even with original rosters, as I've learned the nuances of the game, I've gotten games that strongly resembled real-life basketball.

2K, if you are reading this, keep up the outstanding work. There are definitely things that you can improve on, and I'm confident will be addressed in the upcoming patch, but I give you credit for giving us the best basketball game I've ever seen.

OS members, if you're reading this, I hope your experience with this title is better than what mine has been so far. If it's not, maybe we're not playing the same game.

100% cosign!!!.
Im on the PC version PRO mode with some custom sliders and this game is just challenging and fun. I agree with everything in your post and feel the exact same way about everything.

[ClevelandinDistress]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

Bro we must share the same brain or something. Was thinking of writing a post similar to this for days. Play on pro default and I'm having an absolute blast. This game is 10000 times better than 2k11 against CPU. Online though this game definately has some balancing issues. All in all I am extremely enjoying 2k12 and having an absolute blast.

[Chairman7w]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

Great post, Slimm. Im with you man, i absolutely love this game.

[TeddyKGB]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

The animations, AI, <b>fast break, ball movement</b>, and differences between each individual and team on the game is amazing.

You lost me there. The fast breaks in the game are too easy for a lone cpu defender to stop, while ball movement is largely discouraged by the handsy, overly predictive cpu defense and the nonsensical movement of the free-flow offense.

Still, I am enjoying the game - mostly in user v. user mode.

[slimm44]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

You lost me there. The fast breaks in the game are too easy for a lone cpu defender to stop, while ball movement is largely discouraged by the handsy, overly predictive cpu defense and the nonsensical movement of the free-flow offense.

Still, I am enjoying the game - mostly in user v. user mode.

Lower hustle to 25 for fast-break purposes. The hustle slider appears to be, at least in part, a speed boost for the defenders playing transition D. If you lower it substantially, you'll see the players' true speed rating come through gameplay more.

Also, lower play passing lanes slider to 15-20. I've found the passing lanes slider has the biggest effect on how the CPU controlled defenders react to passes. It allows for more effective post entry passes, cross court passes, and ball movement in general.

Try these tweaks out and let me know what you think.

[Rules]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

I am with you as I think this is the best version yet. There is a ton of work that went into this year's game. Obviously they will have bugs but they are all fixable and we know 2k will patch it.

I love this game and I love the higher difficulty which makes it more challenging to win.

[Mos1ted]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

...Maybe it's because I'm playing on 56" TV and not a computer monitor, allowing me to see the rather obvious flaws more clearly.

...Maybe it's because I've bought 11 straight NBA 2K's and pretty much know the engine inside and out to determine what they got right and what they got wrong.

...Maybe it's because I'm not the only one who is seeing the things that I'm seeing, thus validating what I perceived as flaws are indeed flaws.

...Maybe it's because I've played enough matches against the CPU to know that there is indeed a third quarter comeback programmed into the game.

...Or maybe, I'm just making excuses.

[ultralow36]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

i feel you .was going to write something like this but it will get close because of some over drama members soon.......good post....

[coolcras7]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

I think fans of 2k have this standard that is sometimes unfair, they expect perfection out of the box and we may never get that with a sports game because of the limited development cycle, people expect to be able to master the game within in days, alot say they are sim and really have no idea what it means. The game is not perfect and can be highly frustrated at times, I will admit to almost destroying my PS3 controller after playing the CPU, passing can be just bad, but nothing in the game can't be fixed with a patch or a roster update, people just need to relax and stop being over dramatic.

[2slik]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

...Maybe it's because I'm playing on 56" TV and not a computer monitor, allowing me to see the rather obvious flaws more clearly.

...Maybe it's because I've bought 11 straight NBA 2K's and pretty much know the engine inside and out to determine what they got right and what they got wrong.

...Maybe it's because I'm not the only one who is seeing the things that I'm seeing, thus validating what I perceived as flaws are indeed flaws.

...Maybe it's because I've played enough matches against the CPU to know that there is indeed a third quarter comeback programmed into the game.

...Or maybe, I'm just making excuses.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

[SteveM]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

I will try this with the sliders, although it won't help in My Player. I think the fast break problems are maybe the easiest to key in on because what I keep seeing is my fast break broken up by one measly defender who gets a cheese block followed by an unstoppable fast break by the CPU involving an acrobatic layup.

[farhannius]

Re: Am I playing the same game you are?

Completely agree with the OP, this years game is an absolute joy. The thing is, it's a frustrating game out of the box, you need to make the correct adjustments in the sliders, and Pro difficulty is definitely the best. But once you sort all that out it's the most rewarding game you'll play. Everything just feels right; the stats are real-life accurate and it all comes together perfectly for a great game of basketball. Granted, there are issues; every game has issues. But there's one thing about 2k, is that as a company, they actually care about their games, and the upcoming patch I'm sure will make the game tighter and better. Good post OP, it's all so true.